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I Hate To Say It, But We Are Going Nowhere - Notes for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Friday, 20th Nov 2015 11:30 by HarryFromBath

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums.

“It’s going to be a long old season. The league table is starting to take shape with the big spenders and wage payers congregating near the top and it’s going to be extremely difficult for us to catch any of the sides currently in the play-off positions”, “We are on damage limitation at the moment.”

“The way we currently are, the best I can see this season is that we finish mid-table with a few morale-boosting results to get us through it.”

Wolves arrive at Portman Road comfortably mid-table in 14th place, but their form has been erratic with just one win in their last six games.

Their three results in the week leading up to the international break have typified their form. A solid goalless draw at home to Burnley was preceded by a poor loss to a solitary goal at Ashton Gate and a decent 2-0 triumph in the derby game at Birmingham City on the previous Saturday.

“We are a mid-table team at best”, “What we are seeing is what we are at the moment, a club drifting without an owner and a team drifting without leadership on and off the field”, “The number of league games in which we have failed to perform has become a major cause for concern.”

“The last four months all round have been awful”, “Our season seems to be defined by the loss of left winger Bakary Sako [now playing for Crystal Palace] and then crucially striker Nouha Dicko [out for the season since September with a knee injury]. I feel we are really missing them.”

Kenny Jackett

“I have been convinced since the Ipswich game where we really needed a win and didn’t throw the kitchen sink at them that the job is too big for Kenny. He is far too defensive and not brave enough to go for wins”, “That game highlighted an inability to risk getting what was desperately needed.”

Supporters have regularly highlighted our draw at Molineux last April as a defining example of a game where the manager’s caution proved costly. “The trouble is that he sets up not to lose rather than to win”, “He’s too preoccupied by the opposition rather than using our talented squad.”

Fans have been baffled by some of his decisions. “Kenny seems to have developed tinkering OCD, making changes where there is no need at times. It can’t help players when a manager’s decisions make little sense and don’t actually improve things and when the team is never really settled.”

“The boardroom matters need to be put in order and a new owner found before we can think about a change in management.”

Wolves’ owner and chairman Steve Morgan announced in September that he was putting the club up for sale and many feel that Jackett is safe at least until any new owners have arrived.

“Oh God, man up, let’s support what we have. Other fans will be laughing at us. Lose a game and it’s the current manager out.” The former Millwall boss still has the support of many fans. “Kenny has made huge errors this season no doubt, but he has earned a little time to sort things out.”

Formation

“Collectively we lack a spark”, “We do seem to have turned into a hoof ball team. It isn’t pretty to watch”, “We have the players to go out with whatever system we want to use and play attacking football. Jackett seems so concerned about the opposition rather than getting on the front foot.”

MartinezIorfaBatth (c)WilliamsonGolbournePriceMcDonaldOjoHenryAfobeEdwards

Kenny Jackett set out the starting XI against Burnley in their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. Fans have been frustrated with the inability of the midfield to link effectively on the ground with Benik Afobe, who has struggled for form playing as a lone striker. The team’s poor playing style is a constant theme.

“Oh for a neat, tidy creative number 10”, “David Edwards playing in arguably the most creative role on the pitch and a lack of decent wingers are exactly why we are everything we are right now, awful, slow, predictable and boring”, “The current three playing behind Afobe are as dull as ditch water.”

“There is little movement up front and a massive gap between midfield and Afobe”, “We are so lacking in flair and creativity it is painful”, “We very rarely seem on the front foot. We sit deep, invite sides on and we do it all the time. Start with tempo because if you don’t, the opposition will.”

Wolves 0 - 0 Burnley

The cautious brand of football was exemplified by the goalless draw with the Clarets before in the international break. “We played for a point and looked pretty solid at the back. We offered little threat and wouldn’t have scored if we had played all night. This brand of football does my head in.”

Chances were at a premium. “It was competitive and I enjoyed the game but it would be fair to say defences were largely on top”, “It was on a par with the win at Birmingham in as much as we battled but there was no end product and there wouldn’t be any even if we were still playing now.”

Bristol City 1 - 0 Wolves

“****ing clueless”, “That was bloody horrific, really poor”, “I’m still fuming. What the hell was that? We were clueless on and off the pitch”, “If Kenny gets the boot any time soon, I think this is where he lost me and many others”, “I cannot emphasise how awful that second half was.”

“We were asking Bristol questions in the first half. James Henry and Nathan Byrne were making good runs and deliveries out wide and we were a threat. I am absolutely convinced that if we had not conceded on the brink of half-time, Jackett would not have made those brainless substitutions.”

MartinezIorfaBatth (c)WilliamsonGolbourneCoadyMcDonaldByrneHenryAfobeEdwards

Wolves’ starting XI at Ashton Gate (above) had a familiar shape and personnel. Many visiting fans felt that Wolves had played well in the first half, falling behind to Jonathan Kodjia’s powerful header just before the break. “We did offer some threat down the wings and everyone knew their roles.”

MartinezIorfaBatth (c)WilliamsonGolbourneCoadyMcDonaldEdwardsHenryLe FondreHolt

“Tinker man strikes again.” Supporters were baffled by the change in personnel and formation at half-time (above) and many were angered when right-back Matt Doherty then replaced Conor Coady on 78 minutes for the visitors’ final substitution, leaving two wingers languishing on the bench.

Jackett defended the switch, saying he tried to match the Robins’ system. “Sheyi Ojo scored against the Blues and sits out the next game. Kenny opts to bring on a defender”, “So Kenny you’re one down at Bristol City and bring on a right-back to save the game. Have you completely lost the plot?”

Both wing-backs struggled with the unfamiliar system and Grant Holt played in the number 10 role behind Adam Le Fondre who struggled with a succession of long balls. “The formation in the second half was mind blowing”, “I don’t blame the team for playing poorly. This one was down to Kenny.”

Birmingham City 0 - 2 Wolves

“I’m struggling to remember the last time we played so comfortably at St Andrew’s”, “It was a good, organised, workmanlike performance”, “Our tactics were spot on. We made the Blues look poor and broke with purpose where a better final ball could have seen us win more handsomely.”


Edwards capitalised on poor Blues defending to put the visitors ahead on 11 minutes and substitute Ojo added a second with a low strike with six minutes remaining. Fans commented on their effective use of the counter-attack and praised the team’s energy and pressing off the ball.

“You cannot beat sticking one over the Brummies”, “It was a great result in a crucial match. City came out of the traps fast but we weathered the storm. Once we got the first goal, I couldn’t see them getting back into the game”, “It was a good, dogged derby-day performance.”

Defence

Arsenal loan signing Emiliano Martinez is ruled out for Saturday having picked up a thigh injury against Burnley. The 23-year-old keeper is at Molineux for the season and is “pretty solid”, “He didn’t have a lot to do against Burnley but saved what came his way”, “He has done quite well since coming in.”

His distribution is regularly discussed. “I like the fact that Martinez tries to link with wingers with his kicks but neither are of a high enough calibre to make them an effective weapon”, “The number of balls he hoofs up to the strikers is astonishing. They are only going to come straight back.”

“It was noticeable how Carl Ikeme rolled the ball out to a midfielder rather than lamping it down the middle. As a result we built our attacks and looked more dangerous.” The 29-year-old youth product replaced Martinez against the Clarets. “Ikeme has been hard done by to have been overthrown.”

Carl Ikeme

“Dominic Iorfa has returned to somewhere near his best in recent games.” The 20-year-old right-back and youth product “eats up ground and is great in a tackle”, “He dealt with Demarai Gray well and swallowed the ground at times, getting forward really well when needed to”, “Sheer pace.”

“In the first half at Bristol, Iorfa got forward but struggled with his crossing. After the break, he was pinned back in the defensive three and his erratic but potent first-half threat was nullified”, “He needs to spend time working on his crosses but you can see there is a great player there.”

“I have been Scott Golbourne’s biggest critic but he was excellent against Burnley.” The 27-year-old left-back “works hard and sticks to his task well”, “He defended well and made a big step in the right direction at Birmingham. He won his one-on-ones and played some nice passes going forward.”

“Golbourne swept up in midfield against Burnley and bombed up and down the left all game. He looked like the calm, composed player of two seasons’ ago.” The former Barnsley man was one who also struggled at Bristol. “He offered nothing in defence or attack and looked totally lost.”

“Through no fault of his own, Matt Doherty comes on and everyone knows the season is over.” The 23-year-old youth product has mostly appeared from the bench, notably late on at Ashton Gate. “Why be critical of the Doherty substitution when the very thing he is best at is crossing the ball?”

“Burnley’s tactic of playing from back to front suited Danny Batth as he was able to mop up against the subdued Sam Vokes.” The 25-year-old youth product and centre-back “won headers, made blocks and at times it seemed the Birmingham game was tailor-made for him.”

His distribution is criticised. “As usual, Batth did his long floated ball at least half-a-dozen times to Henry who is outmuscled or Afobe who is isolated. It is a waste of time and I wish he would play to feet”, “He clears the ball when he has to. He isn’t a Rio Ferdinand or Joleon Lescott so get used to it.”

Mike Williamson

“Danny Batth is looking much better since Mike Williamson signed, now he trusts his partner”, “Oh how a mature experienced player in the team makes all the difference. Williamson was constantly organising the back four at St Andrew’s”, “A good reader of the game and his positioning is spot on.”

Andre Gray v Mike Williamson (r)

“Outstanding.” The 31-year-old centre-back joined on a one-month loan from Newcastle in October and fans are delighted that this has been extended to January. “He dominates aerial duels at both ends of the pitch and who can mix it at the back”, “Brings know-how and stability to the defence.”

Central Midfield

“Conor Coady is a bit nondescript and doesn’t do any one thing well. He doesn’t really make a contribution.” The 22-year-old summer signing from Huddersfield “is a decent ball winner but he is hopeless at ball retention, so we end up chasing the ball and not getting a foothold when he plays.”

“The Birmingham game was perfect for Coady. He was getting in the opposition faces and stopping them playing”, “He doesn’t do enough going forward, is a tad slow and struggles to put in a full 90 minutes. His best game was his debut at Blackburn but he hasn’t come up to that level since.”

Many Wanderers feel that Jack Price is a more natural foil for Kevin McDonald. “Price shows the consistency to start every week. He is a tidy player who does the simple things well”, “He keeps it simple and doesn’t give the ball away”, “It’s great to see the little man back in midfield.”

The 22-year-old youth product “keeps the ball moving at all times and he’s a lot more confident to play forward with the ball this season”, “At times Price is needed but at others we need more flair and creativity on the ball, someone with the ability to turn and drive forward with it.”

“I don’t know why we have signed Jed Wallace and not played him in the middle.” The 21-year-old arrival from Pompey this summer has barely featured. “We are shunting a talented number 10 on to the wing whenever we get a chance while playing an inferior player in the playmaker role.”

Kevin McDonald

“McDonald was immense at Birmingham. He absolutely bossed the game and the Blues couldn’t get near him. He brought the ball from to defence to attack on numerous occasions and was unlucky not to score”, “He controlled the game and we looked genuinely threatening on the break with him.”

The 27-year-old former Sheffield United man “keeps things ticking over and drives forward with the ball well but couldn’t produce a decisive pass against Burnley”, “Since signing a new deal, McDonald has been as good as it gets. He and Price complement each other well but don’t work in a 4-4-2.”

David Edwards

“We are back to the same old question with Edwards again, all effort and little substance”, “He works very hard when the opposition have the ball to stop them bringing it out early. He acts as the fulcrum of our attack. What he won’t do is run at a defender or play a killer pass into Afobe.”

There is nobody better at running on from midfield in this league. His passing and work rate are second to none.” The 29-year-old Wales international and ex-Luton man really splits opinion. “Edwards limits the way we play. He has no creativity, can’t take set-pieces and has no flair.”

“The system we play leaves the number 10 as a critical part of the flow of the team. There is nobody out there who can say with a straight face that Edwards does this”, “His pressing and work-rate are second to none but there are times when he is just not needed and we need to open teams up.”

Wide Midfield

A deal for 24-year-old Rajiv Van La Parra to move Bolton on loan has collapsed this week. The ex-Heerenveen man has come back from a knee injury but many feel he has struggled for form. “I have always felt there is a player in there but I don’t know if he has the bottle or mentality to push on.”

One player many want to see feature is the former Town loan signing Jordan Graham. “I have seen him play and am frankly amazed he hasn’t had a chance”, “I have a feeling he is the man for the job, pace, skill and a good shot on him”, “He has the makings of a good player with undoubted ability.”

“I feel for Nathan Byrne. He is a right wing-back shoehorned in on the left. Nobody can judge him fairly.” The 23-year-old summer signing from Swindon “is a little scallywag. He’s tiny but wins headers and 50:50s. If there is one thing I would criticise, it is that he doesn’t look up sometimes.”

Many would like to see Sheyi Ojo return to his parent club Liverpool early. The 18-year-old is on a season-long loan. “Congratulations to Ojo on the single worst wing performance I have ever seen, complete with two embarrassing dives against Burnley, following on from a couple last week.”

“Sort yourself out, man”, “We are persisting with a below-standard winger who we are developing for Liverpool”, “Ojo is not a winger because he doesn’t have the confidence to take people on”, “A 20-minute cameo suits him because he has the trickery to make the most of a stretched pitch.”

James Henry

“Henry at least gets involved in the game but his lack of an end product is astounding.” The 26-year-old ex-Millwall man “runs himself into the ground but his crossing is awful. Time and again he hits it without taking a touch and it results in a loping cross with no real pace”, “I can’t see him improving.”

“With only one striker up top, delivering a ball will always be difficult”, “The forward pushing players have to anticipate better. He put in a couple of good crosses at Birmingham but nobody attacked them”, “For all the flak he takes, most of our chances come with him being involved at some point.”

Strikers

“I would like to see Adam Le Fondre given more game time.” The 28-year-old is on a season-long loan from Cardiff and his most recent start was in last month’s defeat to Brentford. “He held the ball up well but was well off the pace. We provided nothing to him in terms of service that he could use.”

“If given chances, Le Fondre will work the keeper. I can’t imagine a player of his size and physique enjoys spending the entire evening trying to win headers from 60-yard thumps downfield”, “As with Holt, he was totally useless at Bristol, watching long balls going over his head. It wasn’t his doing.”

Grant Holt

“The Dicko injury has been unfortunate, but who was his chosen replacement? Grant bloody Holt”, “What is the point?”, “A one-dimensional overweight player who is well past his sell by date”, “When he came on against Birmingham he looked a bit bulky, but I don’t think the gold shirt helped.”

The 34-year-old signed on loan last month from Wigan until January and has made two appearances from the bench so far. “While the odds may be stacked against Holt doing any good, there is always an outside chance he could surprise us. He’s vastly experienced and is horrible to play against.”

“I was as bemused, frustrated and underwhelmed as anyone when the transfer was announced. However, on reflection I like this move. He will give us the ability to close games down. He can be relied on to hold the ball up and be a big target to relieve pressure on our inexperienced back four.”

Many remain unconvinced. “When he was about to come on at Birmingham, I thought to myself ‘who is this overweight 40-plus Wolves fan?’. I literally thought a fan had won a competition to come on as a substitute, then I realised who it was. He might do a job, who knows?”

Benik Afobe

“Playing the lone role does not suit Afobe but he is effective when we get players in and around him. The problem against Burnley was that he was controlling the ball too often without a gold shirt within 10 yards of him”, “He isn’t helped by a lack of quality and creativity in the three behind him.”

The 22-year-old ex-Gunner has his sympathisers but some criticise him for sulking. “His work-rate is terrible”, “He needs a rocket up his backside. All this nonsense about playing out of position, it does not stop you having the fight or desire to play in the shirt and it has been simply lacking from him.”

“Afobe likes the ball in front of him and is wasted as a target man”, “He worked hard at Birmingham but his first touch was shocking. He was often in an offside position when it was avoidable”, “He was impossibly worse against Bristol but I don’t blame him. He gets no service and looked lost up front.”

Wolves’ Thoughts on ITFC and the Game

“If Ipswich turn up they will have too much for us”, “Well, if they're anything above average, we'll fold”, “I fear a loss in this one but hope I am wrong. I can't help feeling that we are a much poorer side this season and not looking anything like a promotion contender.”

In prediction polls, 48% of Wanderers have predicted a Town win with 36% forecasting an away win. Most of their optimists think they will squeak a narrow 2-1 win, but a good number of their more pessimistic supporters have predicted a comfortable 3-0 win for the Blues.

“If Ipswich go 1-0 up, it's game over. We'll fold like a cheap garden table. I'd just like to see us try and play football”, “I have got a really bad feeling about this one. I can see us getting a hiding”, “I can see nothing but a tonking - 3-0 would not surprise me in the least”, “Routine home win at a canter.”

“Ipswich are a very physical team, very well organised and they have pace now with Fraser and Maitland-Niles on loan. I had them to go up, but defensively they aren't performing the best this season”, “By all accounts they are as consistent at being inconsistent as Wolves.”

“Freddie Sears will almost certainly score. Ipswich always seem to have an annoying striker with a habit of scoring against us. Remember that guy David Johnson?”, “I think Scowcroft was a nightmare against us”, “An absolute nightmare, he always scored against us, even when he wasn't at Ipswich.”

They had plenty to say about Christophe Berra. “He is a good enough defender at this level and is nowhere near as bad or slow as people on here seem to think. He was outstanding against us at our place last season and kept Dicko pretty quiet from what I remember.”

“What Berra lacks in pace is made up by his handling (grabbing opponents’ shirts) and obstruction though”, “He's a proper Championship centre-half and if he can bully Afobe we have no chance, but his pace over 10-15 yards should be exposed if possible.”

“Ipswich are a very dull but hard-working side and will be very hard to break down”, “A solid Championship team but unspectacular and vulnerable to pace at the back (classic Mick really). If we play to Benik's strengths he could have a lot of joy on Saturday. We haven't done that all season.”

“Ipswich lack pace at the back and the one thing Wolves do have are a few players with pace”, “We won’t get any joy pumping balls up the pitch against Berra and Smith like we did in both games last year. Be brave and pass the ball. Pass them off the pitch with good movement and intelligent play.”

“If Holt's to be of any assistance to us at all this season, this match is the game in which he could show it”, “Whether one Holt goal will be enough I don't know”, “I have had a feeling that Holt may score coming off the bench. He's going to get a particularly warm welcome from the Tractor Boys.”

Websites

The busiest Wolves website is the polite and knowledgeable Molineux Mix.


Photo: Action Images



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theipswichman added 11:37 - Nov 20
Looks like were not the only ones with fickle fans, Kenny Jacket has done a great job there getting them from league 1 up into the championship and then had a decent season last year, Fans always expect instant results but sometimes things are achieved in a longer term project.

Just like Mick has done a great job in taking us from a soulless club to a top 6 in 2-3 seasons, hopefully we've come out of this bad form and Mick will prove what a fantastic manager he is starting with a win tomorrow.
3

TR11BLU added 11:40 - Nov 20
Great read again Harry, even if a little later than usual ;-)

Thanks

Tricky to call this one...
2

Bluebell added 11:48 - Nov 20
Fanastic to read as always Harry.

They may be worried about this one but so am I. Beating the 2 bottom teams may have seemed easy but Wolves are a strong physical team and a different kettle of fish. I have a feeling we will beat them tomorrow but not easily. I'm going for 1-0 to us.
2

vanmunt added 11:54 - Nov 20
Any news on Teddy? It will be like a new signing when he gets back...

Great read as usual Harry, I genuinely look forward to reading them every week.
4

alztar added 11:59 - Nov 20
absolutely outstanding picture choice for Holt
3

Lathers added 12:11 - Nov 20
Key game this one. A win and we will be properly back on it. Wolves definitely look less of a team than they were last season and we are supposedly a better team than we were last year (although we're only seeing it in small doses). 2-0 or 2-1 I fancy.
2

Seasider added 16:10 - Nov 20
Nobody tell Kenny Jacket that the former Norwich pie man usually has a good game against us and will be moaning and falling over in the penalty area as usual.Hope the ref does not get taken in by his antics.
Wolves not as good as they were last year;but then neither are we quite yet;but should get another three points I hope!
1

LankHenners added 17:16 - Nov 20
Thanks as always Harry. Definitely a stronger test than the last two games but as they say themselves, it depends in which Wolves team turns up. I think we have enough to beat them either way, but if we do get on the front foot first (which looks like what they fear) I hope we play with the same ruthlessness and energy that we did against Rotherham.

We've got the ability now to really scare any team in the division, and I hope we can start to make that count.
1

essextractorboy93 added 17:42 - Nov 20
Great stuff again Harry!

I expect Afobe to start but Holt/Le Fondre could come on at any point, look out for Holt rolling around on the ground trying to win free kicks/penalties. Inevitable
1

ArnieM added 23:03 - Nov 20
Since when have we been a "physical team"? What a load of bollocks. Typical anti McCarthy retorick and a total misconception of his type of team IMO. Name an outfield Town player who hacks opponents down!
1


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